Redskin Theater
116 S. Main Street,
Wetumka,
OK
74883
116 S. Main Street,
Wetumka,
OK
74883
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The Redskin Theater opened on August 10, 1948. It was still open in 1952, but had closed by 1955. For a while it became a restaurant. It was standing vacant in 2016.
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Lost Memory
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
Cinematour is listing this theater as the Avalon. Could be an AKA…..
Also, mapping shows this to be on S. Main St, not N. Main St like the old Time Theater in Wetumka. So the theaters are several block apart.
The 1950 edition of Film Daily Yearbook listed the Avalon Theater with 350 seats, and the Redskin Theater with 500 seats.
So was the Time Theater a 3rd theater in that small town?
Suprisingly, the 1941 edition of Film Daily Yearbook lists a Nusho Theater with 300 seats, and a Rogue Theater with 300 seats. In the 1943 edition of F.D.Y. the Nusho Theater has 390 seats and the Rogue Theater 300 seats.
The August 14, 1948, issue of Boxoffice said that the Redskin Theatre at Wetumka had opened on the 10th of that month. The Redskin was operated by Cecil Duncan, who also owned the Avalon Theatre in Wetumka.
The Nusho Theatre in Wetumka was mentioned in The Reel Journal, August 28, 1926. The Rogue is mentioned a couple of times, in 1940 and 1941. It was one of four theaters of that name operated in various Oklahoma towns by the Guthrie brothers. As I haven’t found the Avalon mentioned any earlier than 1946, there’s a possibility that it was either the Nusho or the Rogue renamed.
The Avalon, Redskin, and Time (opened in 1947) were all different houses, and all three were in operation between 1948 and at least 1954, the last year in which I’ve found the Avalon mentioned. The Avalon might not have survived into the CinemaScope era. A lot of theaters shut down because they couldn’t afford to install the new equipment.
Dale and Retha Groden took over the Redskin Theatre from Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Duncan on September 1, 1973, according to the September 17 issue of Boxoffice that year.
I found two other theatres on fire insurance maps. One was on a 1911 map at the NW corner of N. Main & Frisco. The building is demolished now and replaced by a library. The other was present on 1925 and 1932 maps and was two lots north of the Redskin near Broadway & Main. The lot is empty now (demolished). Unfortunately, maps only go to 1932 for this town. The Redksin and Time lots are not occupied by theatres during that time period.
Lauren, Thanks for all the great photo’s. I am always looking to buy a closed theater to renovate. If you know of one in Texas or Oklahoma please email me info. I have seen many but i can never find out who owns them. Thank you Cal
I was 7 years old when the Redskin Theater opened in Wetumka, Oklahoma. I walk to the Redskin on what I think was opening day with my mom and her friend. The movie showing that day was called Man-eater of Kumaon. I remember seeing a man on stage before the movie started demonstrating proudly with a cigarette lighter how the curtain behind him would not burn. wetumkajim
Calc and anyone else interested in buying an abandoned theater…..let me know. I know of one that is for sale…. VERY CHEAP ! It needs TLC attention before it goes into complete disrepair.
A June 28, 1962, article in The Hughes County Times mentions a free ticket giveaway to see a movie at the Redskin.